November 4, 2016

Following the dearth of funding from the Nigerian government
and donor agencies for research into alternative energy sources, Environmental
Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN) have urged the government
to grant zero tariffs on renewable energy products for greater energy access in
the country.

The group made the plea during a one-day renewable energy
conference, funded by Friends of the Earth Norway, which brought together civil
society, development groups, government officials and community-based groups
who shared experiences and analyzed critically issues concerning energy policy
in Nigeria.

Participants noted that since energy remains critical for
development, individuals and civil society groups must amplify calls for a halt
to the fossil fuel economy and a change to clean alternatives such as solar,
wind and mini-hydro projects, among others.

In a communique issued at end of the conference, the participants observed that
Nigeria has largely paid lip service to increasing power generation to meet the
demand of the teeming population and become a dumping ground for substandard
alternative energy products from the developed economies.

They noted that Nigeria’s energy policies are deficient,
lack community perspectives and the political will to follow through
implementation; most private investors in energy systems in Nigeria are more
interested in profits than actually bridging the nation’s energy deficit, while
funding for research and development is lacking in Nigeria’s drive to energy sovereignty.

The participants, therefore recommended reform of the
renewable energy policy and proposal for a renewable energy policy bill;
promotion of decentralized alternative energy with a focus on renewables,
which must be affordable and environment- friendly

The groups also suggested that clean and safe community
alternative energy models be vigorously pursued to deliver on community energy
needs that are off-grid and mini-grids.

They further expressed the need to develop a renewable
energy development model that is back by an Act of Parliament; government
should divest funding, loans and subsidies from fossil fuel development and oil
prospecting and instead invest in renewable sources of energy.

Earlier, Executive Director, ERA/FoEN, Dr. Godwin Uyi Ojo
stated that the dramatic slump in the price of oil from about US$148 per barrel
barely a year ago to less than US$40 currently has reawaken the urgent need for
diversification and de-carbonisation of Nigeria’s economy.

“Fossil fuels are finite and dirty energy that coal, oil and gas, bitumen, and
nuclear represent, which are deleterious to the environment.

“While government should invest in research and roll out
programmes for energy access, it should also ensure that the high tariffs
placed on renewable energy gadgets are promptly removed to zero tariffs to
promote greater energy access,” Ojo said.

For the group, Nigeria should key into the Africa Renewable
Energy Initiative (AREI) by developing plans and programmes to improve
universal clean energy access and reach the prescribed new and additional
renewable energy generation capacity and targets of at least 10GW by 2020 and
at least 300GW in Africa by 2030.

He said: “A robust energy policy and monetary incentives
will not only serve to actualize substantial part of Nigeria’s Nationally
Determined Commitment to reducing carbon emissions from the atmosphere but
would position Nigeria as the hub for Renewable Energy development in Africa.

“Such policy framework should include the concept of
decentralization and energy democracy whereby individuals and communities are
co-producers, suppliers and beneficiaries of an energy investment with roles
and responsibilities as well as sharing of benefits to the end users rather
than giant monopolistic energy entities.”